Description This course introduces anthropology as a four-field discipline, encompassing biological anthropology, archaeology, socio-cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. The primary objective of this course is to expose you to the broad range of humans and cultures that exist today and that existed in the past. You will learn the basic methods and techniques anthropologists use to conduct research and the terms that they use to communicate their findings. When you leave this course, you will see the world differently; you will have a greater understanding and appreciation of the diversity of humans and cultures around the globe, as well as the biological and cultural changes our species underwent to make us who we are today.
Date, Time & Location
Instructor
Teaching Assistants
Tuesday & Thursday 8:00 am – 9:20 am THEAT Lincoln Hall
Sarah E. Baires, MA
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: Davenport Hall 309 R, Tuesday 10:00
am - 12:00 pm
Erin Benson
Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Davenport Hall 309 E, Wednesday 1:00-4:00 pm
Amanda Butler
Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Davenport Hall 309 L, Wednesday 9:00 am-12:00 pm
Katharine Lee
Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Davenport Hall 283, Tuesdays 2:00-5:00 pm
Adam Sutherland
Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Davenport Hall 309 Q, Monday 1:00-4:00 pm
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Objectives
• Understand how anthropology contributes to how we know the world in the 21st century
• Gain a greater understanding and appreciation of human peoples and cultures around the globe
• Understand human evolution and how this informed who we are today • Challenge assumptions about what we think of as “human nature”
• Use anthropological research to foster critical thinking skills and instill the values of protecting our cultural heritage
Required Text and Readings Anthropology: What Does it Mean to be Human, 2nd Edition By Robert H. Lavenda and Emily A. Schultz, Oxford Press © 2013.
This text is required and is available in the University Bookstore.
Additional readings will be available on Compass 2g.
Course Information
ANTHROPOLOGY 101 Spring 2014
Exams, Reading Response Papers and
Extra Credit
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Exams There will be three in-class exams of multiple choice and fill in the blank. These exams will be non-cumulative and will cover materials from class lectures, in class videos, readings, and the textbook. Make-up exams will only be granted in extenuating circumstances and with a letter from the Emergency Dean. Make-up exams will be in essay format. Reading Response Papers In addition to the exams there will be three short, written assignments on a particular article and topic as designated in the syllabus. These written assignments are 2 page double-spaced response papers (Times New Roman font, 12 pt., 1-inch margins). The purpose of these written assignments is to help you think about the types of work anthropologists do outside of academia, and for you to obtain a more nuanced grasp of what anthropology is and how it is applied in the ‘real world’. You should draw correlations among what is learned/discussed in class, the required course readings, and the Response Paper articles in order to make a robust commentary on the role and importance of the study of Anthropology. These papers are due via Compass 2g on the date specified below on the syllabus. No late papers will be accepted.
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Extra Credit
There will be three options for extra credit throughout the semester. They will typically take the form of attending lectures or events out of class that explore different components of Anthropology. I will announce these opportunities in class prior to each event. After each extra credit opportunity you will turn in a 1-2 page double-spaced (Times New Roman font, 12pt, 1-inch margins) response to the event you attended. These response papers will connect what you learned in the extra credit lecture/event to any of the topics covered in class.
Please present a thoughtful response to the lecture or event; if you are critical of the event you attended explain why and provide examples of ways you think the event or lecture material could have been presented better. Base this critique on what you have learned in class about Anthropology and provide examples of alternative approaches to the subject matter. If you thought the lecture/event was put together well and clearly presented the topic and material in a thoughtful way indicate what you enjoyed about the event and the reasons why you believed the event/lecture to be a productive and positive representation of Anthropology.
You will be allowed to complete all three extra credit opportunities for a total of 10 extra points to be added to your final grade. I reserve the right to give you 0 points if you do not provide a satisfactory response.
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DUE DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED PRIOR TO EVENT IN LECTURE
• Attending 1 Extra Credit Opportunity 3 points
• Attending 2 Extra Credit Opportunities 6 points
• Attending 3 Extra Credit Opportunities 10 points
Your grade on the extra credit assignment will be determined on how well you formulate your argument and discuss the event you attended. The Instructor and TA have the right to give out full credit or no credit for submissions depending on how well your submission is organized, is relevant to the class and the event, and well-written.
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Expectations and Conduct
Come to class regularly and complete required readings prior to class!
Be on time and be respectful to your fellow classmates, instructor, and Teaching Assistants.
Be active in class! Take notes, participate, and contribute to discussion.
The instructor and TAs will NOT provide lecture notes; if you miss a class you are responsible for obtaining notes from a fellow classmate.
Check the Compass 2g course website regularly for announcements and updates.
Cell phones must be turned off before class. Checking Facebook, text messages, or emails will not be tolerated. Anyone caught doing any of these things will be asked to leave the class.
Academic Integrity
The UIUC library (http://www.library.illinois.edu/learn/research/academicintegrity.html) defines academic integrity as follows: "Academic integrity means honesty and responsibility in scholarship. Students and faculty alike must obey rules of honest
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scholarship, which means that all academic work should result from an individual's own efforts. Intellectual contributions from others must be consistently and responsibly acknowledged. Academic work completed in any other way is fraudulent." Note that cheating will automatically result in the failure of the assignment and possibly the course.
Course Policy
Course content is subject to change, please check compass weekly to double check course content, schedule, and assignment due dates.
Plagiarism involves the
representation of another's work as your own. The UIUC library (http://www.library.illinois.edu/learn/research/academicintegrity.html) defines plagiarism as follows: "Plagiarism is using others' ideas and/or words without clearly acknowledging the source of that information. It may be intentional (e.g., copying or purchasing papers from an online source) or unintentional (e.g., failing to give credit for an author's ideas that you have paraphrased or summarized in your own words).
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Plagiarism is dishonest and prevents instructors from being able to assess students' authentic strengths and weaknesses and thereby help students to improve. It is crippling to your intellectual progress as it interferes with your ability to trust your own thinking, and it constipates future creative thinking. It is also an infraction of academic integrity and could result in expulsion from the university. The University of Illinois student code defines all types of plagiarism: Article 1, Section 4(d) of the student code." Visit the UIUC library website for more information on avoiding plagiarism.
Learning Disabilities
Any student in the course who has a disability should contact me as soon as possible so that we can discuss accommodations to ensure full participation and educational support. Please see the Disability Resources and Educational Services website http://www.disability.illinois.edu/ for more information.
Important Information
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Part 1: Introduction to Anthropology
Week 1
Tuesday, January 21: Course Introduction, What is Anthropology
Reading Due (optional): “What is Anthropology: What it Means to be Human” Anthropology Report
Thursday, January 23: What is Anthropology?
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 1, pp. 3-18
Part 2: Biological Anthropology and Evolution
Week 2
Tuesday, January 28: Evolutionary Theory, Natural Selection, and Darwin
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 2, pp. 29-39
Thursday, January 30: Basics of Genetics: Mendel to DNA
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 2, pp. 39-55
Week 3
Tuesday, February 4: Human Variation and Adaptation
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 3, pp. 58-73
Thursday February 6: A Case Study: Human Rights and Identifying Remains
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 2, pp. 44-45 Anthropology in Everyday Life
Week 4
Tuesday, February 11: What are
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Primates? Taxonomy and Living Primates
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 4, pp. 93-109
Thursday, Febrary 13, 2013: Primate Evolution and Chronology
In Class Film: Ape Genius
Week 5
Tuesday, February 18: Human Origins: The First Hominins
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 5, pp. 110-129
Thursday, February 20: The Evolution of Homo sapiens
In Class Film: Becoming Human Part 3
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 5, pp. 129-151
Response paper 1 Due: “What Modern Humans Can Learn From the Neanderthals’ Extinction”
Popular Science by, Annalee Newitz
Week 6: EXAM WEEK
Tuesday, February 25: REVIEW FOR EXAM
Come with questions, this is a time for you to present any questions or concerns about the upcoming exam. No questions, no review.
Thursday, February 27: EXAM 1
Part 3: Archaeology
Week 7
Tuesday, March 4: Reconstructing the Past
In Class Film: Secrets of Stonehenge
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 6, pp. 154-168
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Thursday, March 6: How do we
learn about the human past? Methods and Materials
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Module 2, pp. 82-91
Week 8
Tuesday, March 11: Whose past is
it? Archaeology, Politics, and NAGPRA
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 6, pp. 169-177
Response paper 2 Due: “Kennewick Man Debate Not Easily Put to Rest” Seattle Times by Lynda V. Mapes
Thursday, March 13: First Cities
and States: Agriculture, Labor, and Hierarchy
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 7, pp. 180-196
Week 9
Tuesday, March 18: What is social
complexity? Band, Tribe, Chiefdom, State
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 7, pp. 197-205
Thursday, March 20: A Case
Study: Ancient Maya Hieroglyphs
In Class Film: Cracking the Maya Code
Week 10: SPRING BREAK!
Lecture Schedule
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Instructor: Sarah E. Baires, MA Spring 2014
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Week 11: EXAM WEEK
Tuesday, April 1: REVIEW FOR EXAM
Thursday, April 3: EXAM 2
Part 4: Culture and Language
Week 12
Tuesday, April 8: Understanding Human Culture and Diversity: Ethnography
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 8, pp. 214-218, pp. 220-228 & Module 3: On Ethnographic Methods, pp. 231-241
Thursday, April 10: Language and Culture
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 9, pp. 245-256
Basso, “To Give up on Words: Silence in Western Apache Culture”
Week 13
Tuesday, April 15: Kinship and the Role of Descent
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 13, pp. 363-378
Thursday, April 17: Marriage and Family
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 13, p. 379-403
Response Paper 3 Due: “Defending ‘Traditional Marriage? Whose Definition? What Tradition?”
The Blog American Anthropological Association, Huffington Post by, Richard Feinberg
Week 14
Tuesday, April 22: Myth, Ritual and Symbolism
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Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 10, pp. 293-311
Kertzer, Ritual, Politics, and Power, Chapter 2
Thursday, April 24: Culture and Economics
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 11, pp. 315-337
Week 15
Tuesday, April 29: Social Inequality: Race and Gender
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 14, pp. 406-434
Thursday, May 1: A Case Study: Anthropology and Human Rights, Immigration and the U.S. Border
Reading Due: “An Anthropologist Records the Lives Behind the Border Crossings”
By, Kristina Puga, NBC LATINO
Week 16
Tuesday, May 6: Political Anthropology and Globalization
Reading Due: Lavenda and Schultz, Chapter 12, pp. 339-361; Chapter 15, pp. 437-467
FINAL EXAM/EXAM 3 LOCATION/TIME TBA
Lecture Schedule
Course Grades
A ………...........................90-100
B…………………………………80-89
C………………………………...70-79
D…………………………………60-69
F…………………………………..0-59
Due Dates
1. Response Paper 1……February 20
2. Response Paper 2……...March 11
3. Response Paper 3……….April 10
4. EXAM 1……………..February 27
5. EXAM 2…………………..April 3
6. EXAM 3/FINAL………....TBA
Course Points
Assignment Possible Points
Exam 1……………………………….100
Exam 2……………………………….100
Exam 3……………………………….100
RP 1……………………………………25
RP 2……………………………………25
RP 3……………………………………25
Total Possible Points: 375
Total Possible Extra Credit Points: 10
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